Confessions of a Foodie

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Friday, March 30, 2018

Easter Food

Today is Good Friday; Sunday is Easter. Here are several recipes to try for Easter – or any time - including Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze and Coconut Cream Cake w/Peaches. Enjoy!

MAKE-AHEAD FRIED CHICKEN

This comes from Melissa Clark, from The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Fried chicken is one of the few fried foods that tastes just as good served at room temperature as it does when it's served hot enough to burn your fingers. This recipe has been specially engineered to be made in advance. It’s seasoned assertively, so the flavors won’t dull as it cools. But the real key is double-dipping the chicken in the flour mixture before you fry it, making for an extra-crunchy crust that holds up all afternoon. And it lets you serve fried chicken to your guests and still have enough time to clean the kitchen and take a shower before they arrive.

“Although the recipe calls for all drumsticks, which won’t dry out as they sit, feel free to substitute other chicken parts.” Makes 4 to 6 servings.

To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017514-make-ahead-fried-chicken.

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

1 quart buttermilk

2 torn bay leaves

2 thinly sliced shallots

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons Tabasco sauce

1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning

1 teaspoon dry mustard powder

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons cracked black pepper

1 tablespoon honey

12 drumsticks, about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds chicken

For the Coating:

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cayenne

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon good chile power such as chipotle powder

Corn, grapeseed or vegetable oil, for frying

Preparation

Make the marinade: Whisk together all the marinade ingredients, except the chicken, and place in a large bowl or plastic bag. Submerge the chicken in the marinade, cover bowl or seal bag, and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or, better, overnight.

Make the coating: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cayenne, salt and chile powder. Place a paper bag inside another paper bag (to prevent seepage, use large bags or several small ones) and transfer the flour mixture into it. This is so you can shake the chicken pieces. (You can also just mix flour in a bowl and dredge the chicken parts in it, or use a heavy-duty plastic zipper bag for shaking.)

Take a piece of chicken out of the marinade and place it in the bag with the flour mixture. Close the bag and shake it so the chicken is fully coated. (Or, if you are using a bowl, dredge the chicken in the flour mixture.) Remove and place on a plate or sheet pan. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces, one by one. Let chicken rest for 30 minutes so it can come to room temperature. Reserve the coating mixture.

In a large Dutch oven or heavy skillet with a lid, heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees. Just before frying, shake the chicken pieces in the coating mixture once again, one by one.

Fry the chicken for 6 minutes, covered, then uncover the pot and flip the chicken with tongs. Continue frying for about another 6 minutes, or until the coating is dark golden brown and the juices run clear when the meat is pricked with a fork.

Place chicken on a wire rack set over a paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain and cool. Serve within 8 hours, but it's best to serve within 4 hours and leave the chicken at room temperature, rather than chilling it.

COCONUT CREAM CAKE WITH PEACHES

This also comes from Melissa Clark, from The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “In this trifle-like dessert, a tender coconut macaroon cake is layered with whipped cream and juicy ripe peaches. It’s allowed to rest in the refrigerator so the cake can absorb the cream and peach juices, and the whole thing turns into an almost puddinglike confection. If you’d rather serve it trifle-style from a large glass bowl, feel free. This is best after 24 to 48 hours in the fridge, when the cake has absorbed the maximum amount of cream. You can garnish the top with strawberries or more peach slices if you like, or leave it plain.” Makes 10 to 12 servings.

To view this yummy dessert online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017519-coconut-cream-cake-with-peaches.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

Nonstick cooking spray, as needed

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 2/3 cups dried unsweetened finely grated coconut

For the Filling and Topping:

2 1/4 cups heavy cream

2 to 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, to taste

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 large to 4 small ripe peaches or nectarines, diced

Sliced peaches or strawberries, or both, for decoration (optional)

Preparation

Make the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.

Fill a medium pot with one inch of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Combine eggs, sugar and salt in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk until blended. Place bowl over (but not touching) simmering water and continue whisking until warm to the touch. Remove from heat and whip until mixture has tripled in volume, about 5 minutes. Fold in vanilla extract and coconut. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake until cake is firm to the touch and golden brown, about 25 to 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Line a 10-inch springform cake pan with plastic wrap, leaving overhang. (You’ll need 2 long pieces of plastic.)

Make the filling and topping: Whip 1 1/2 cups of the cream with the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. (Reserve the remaining 3/4 cup cream for serving.)

Run a knife or offset spatula around the edges of the cake; invert onto a clean work surface and peel off the parchment. Cut a 9 3/4-inch round out from the sheet cake and fit it into the bottom of your springform pan (trim the cake round if necessary). Spread half the cream over the cake round, then top with half the peaches.

Cut the remaining cake scraps to make another layer of cake on top of the peaches, then top with more peaches and more whipped cream. Wrap the pan tightly in the plastic, using more plastic if needed. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 3 days.

Release the sides of the pan and unwrap the cake to the point at which the top is exposed. Carefully flip the cake over onto a serving platter. Remove the pan bottom and the plastic wrap. Whip the remaining cream and spread over the cake before serving. Decorate with peaches, strawberries or both, if you like.

SCALLOPED POTATOES AND HAM

This comes from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s show The Pioneer Woman. Total Time: 1 hr 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Cook: 1 hr 20 min; Yield: 12 servings; Level: Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/scalloped-potatoes-and-ham.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, plus extra for greasing dish

1/2 yellow onion, diced

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups half-and-half

1 1/2 cups milk

Freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds russet potatoes, washed thoroughly

3 cups diced cooked ham

2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

Chopped fresh parsley, for sprinkling, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Add the butter and onions to a large skillet over medium heat and saute until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and whisk them together. Continue cooking the onion/flour mixture until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the half-and-half and milk and whisk around, allowing the mixture to thicken; this will take 3 to 4 minutes. Add some pepper, stir the sauce, reduce the heat and keep warm.

Slice the potatoes really thin using a mandolin or a really sharp knife, the thinner the better. Generously butter a 2-quart baking dish, then add half the sliced potatoes and half the diced ham. Sprinkle on half the cheese then pour on half the sauce from the skillet. Repeat with the rest of the ingredients, ending with a layer of cheese and sauce. Sprinkle extra pepper on top.

Cover the dish with foil and bake it for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake until the cheese is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling, an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired and serve it up.

BAKED HAM WITH BROWN SUGAR GLAZE

This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Perfect for any gathering, glazed baked ham is the centerpiece of a holiday feast, elegant brunch or birthday dinner.” Serves: 12; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 2 hours 35 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 to 8 pounds fully cooked smoked bone-in ham

Whole cloves, if desired

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, or cider vinegar

1/2 - teaspoon ground mustard

Orange slices, if desired

Maraschino cherries, if desired

Directions

Heat oven to 325ºF.

Place ham, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of ham and does not touch bone or rest in fat. Cover loosely and bake 1 1/4 to 2 1/4 hours or until thermometer reads 135°F (13 to 17 minutes per pound).

About 20 minutes before ham is done, remove from oven. Pour drippings from pan. Remove any skin from ham. Cut uniform diamond shapes on fat surface of ham. Insert clove into each diamond. Stir together brown sugar, vinegar and mustard; pat or brush on ham. Bake uncovered 20 minutes longer.

Cover ham and let stand about 10 minutes or until thermometer reads 140°F. Garnish with orange slices and cherries.

CROCKPOT CHUTNEY HAM

This comes from Linda Larsen, About.com’s Busy Cooks expert. Linda wrote, “This super easy dinner recipe for ham cooked in the crockpot has the most wonderful flavor. Serve it for your next dinner party, or for the perfect Easter or Christmas dinner.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes; Total Time: 495 minutes; Yield: 6-8 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 lb. fully cooked boneless ham

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 (6 oz.) jars mango chutney

1 onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Preparation

Place ham in crockpot. Mix remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and pour over the ham. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours until thoroughly heated.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY TARTS

Servings: 24

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/129.shtml

Ingredients

2 (8oz) packages Neufchatel (light) cream cheese, room temp

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temp

1 tsp vanilla extract

24 Keebler chocolate wafers, 30% reduced fat

1 (21oz) can light cherry pie filling

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin tins with foil and paper cupcake liners.

Beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Place a chocolate wafer in each cup, spoon on cheese mixture. Bake 18 to 20 minutes; remove from tins and let cool. Top with cherry pie filling. Chill overnight before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 118 ; Fat: 5 g ; Sodium: 104 mg; Cholesterol: 24 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Exchanges: 1/2 bread; 1/2 fruit; 1/2 protein; 1 fat

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Drinks - Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's double post deals with drinks.

Okay, so we all eat. But we do occasionally need something to drink with (or between) our meals. Here are six yummy drinks to help us through the day, including Slow-Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Chocolate-Espresso Smoothie. Enjoy!

CAPPUCCINO COOLER

This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “There's no need to pay the small fortune that your corner coffee bar charges for a frozen concoction when you can make this smoothie. If you like your coffee strong, omit the sugar.”

POINTS® Value: 3; Servings: 1; Preparation Time: 6 min; Cooking Time: 0 min;Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk

1/2 cup fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt

1/4 cup black coffee, but brewed espresso preferred, cooled to room temperature

1/4 cup ice cube(s), about 3 cubes

1/2 tsp sugar, superfine

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions

In a blender, combine all ingredients; puree until smooth.

Pour into a tall, chilled glass; sprinkle with additional cinnamon, if you like.

CARAMEL CAPPUCCINO SHAKE

This is from an old (10+ year old) Weight Watchers email. The points are from 2006.

The recipe begins, “It's hard to believe this luscious shake is nearly fat-free. You can easily double the recipe and share some with the rest of the family.”

POINTS® Value | 4; Servings | 2; Preparation Time | 8 min;Cooking Time | 0 min; Level of Difficulty | Easy

Ingredients

1 cup fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt

1/4 cup fat-free skim milk

1/2 tsp instant espresso, powder

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup lite whipped topping

2 Tbsp fat-free caramel topping

Instructions

Blend yogurt, milk, espresso powder and cinnamon on high. Pour into two glasses. Top each with 2 tablespoons whipped topping and 1 tablespoon caramel topping.

RUMPLEMAYER’S HOT CHOCOLATE

This is from Molly O’Neill in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Molly wrote, “Hot chocolate is traceable to the Aztecs, who regarded the dark and bitter drink as a sacred brew. The hot cocoa that Columbus offered his patrons tasted “bitter, scummy and peppery,” according to Chantal Coady's account in “The Chocolate Companion,” which explains, no doubt, why they disliked it intensely. Sometime later, Cortez offered the same beverage to Charles V and his courtiers and succeeded in capturing their imagination with the addition, Ms. Coady writes, of some sugar and vanilla. This version, adapted from Rumplemayer's, a now-closed New York restaurant once known for its hot chocolate and pastries, falls into the latter camp; it is rich, sweet and smooth. It calls for real semisweet chocolate (we bet a mix of semisweet and bittersweet would be delightful, too) so there's none of the chalky aftertaste hot cocoa often leaves behind. A dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, if you wish, take it over the top.”

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 2 minutes.

This was featured in “Food; Loco for Cocoa,” and can be viewed here.

Ingredients

4 cups milk

6 tablespoons sugar

7 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 cup heavy cream (optional)

Ground cinnamon, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Combine the milk, sugar and chocolate in a large saucepan. Heat, stirring frequently, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture comes to a simmer.

Meanwhile, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks. Ladle the hot chocolate into 4 mugs, top with whipped cream and sprinkle lightly with ground cinnamon. Serve immediately.

SLOW-COOKER PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE

This comes from The Food Network, and starts off, “Made and served in the same pot, our slow-cooker cocoa is thickened and enriched with dark chocolate. Set up an add-ons bar beside the cooker (mini marshmallows, crushed candies and peppermint schnapps take cocoa to a whole new holiday level), then stick a ladle in the pot and let guests help themselves.” The recipe's last ingredient is peppermint schnapps, which is optional. I don't use it, and, if this is being served to children and/or people who normally don't drink – or if you're not sure – don't use it. I find that it really doesn't need it. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min; Prep: 5 min; Cook: 2 hr; Yield: 14 cups; Level: Easy

To read more, go to: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-peppermint-hot-chocolate.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

12 cups whole milk

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon kosher salt

8 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped

24 peppermint candies, crushed (about 1 cup), for serving

3 cups mini marshmallows, for serving

2 cups peppermint schnapps, optional, for serving

Directions

Whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder in a 6-quart slow cooker. Turn the cooker to high, and slowly whisk in the milk to prevent lumps from forming. Add the vanilla and salt, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. The sugar and cocoa powder should be completely dissolved.

Whisk in the chopped chocolate a little at a time until it is all incorporated. Replace the lid, and cook until thickened, 30 minutes more.

Turn the cooker to warm, and serve with small bowls of the peppermint candies and mini marshmallows and a small pitcher of schnapps, if using. For minty cocoa, let a few teaspoons of the peppermints melt in an 8-ounce cup or add 2 tablespoons of schnapps.

CHOCOLATE-ESPRESSO SMOOTHIE

This is from the February 2007 issue of Runner’s World.

8 ounces chocolate yogurt, such as Brown Cow “Cream Top”

1 large banana (browned & frozen)*

2 shots espresso, chilled

2 C ice (about 14 ice cubes)

1 dozen chocolate-covered espresso beans

Place half of the yogurt plus all the remaining ingredients in blender & puree until smooth. Add remaining yogurt & pulse until smooth. (If you add full container of yogurt at beginning, mixture is too thick to blend easily.)

For a thicker smoothie, blend in up to a cup more ice. Serves two.

Note:* Any ripe banana will work, but a browned & frozen banana lends better flavor & texture.

With Brown Cow: calories: 230; fat: 7 g; carbs: 39 g; protein: 7 g.

CAFE DE OLLA

The recipe for this yummy coffee is from the December 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 47. It starts off, “Literally 'coffee from the pot,' this recipe offers a simple way to make coffee for a crowd, with a spiced twist that no one can resist.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

4 cinnamon sticks

4 star anise

4 allspice berries

4 whole cloves

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar or 4 oz. piloncillo (Mexican raw sugar cones)

2 cups medium grind, dark roast coffee beans

2 cups low-fat milk

1 cup coffee liqueur, such as Kahlúa, optional

Lightly crush cinnamon sticks, star anise, allspice, and cloves with mortar and pestle. Place in resealable plastic bag, and pound with rolling pin. Transfer to large saucepan, and add sugar and 8 cups water. Bring mixture to a boil, and simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add coffee, and let steep 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, warm milk in small saucepan, and whisk until frothy.

Strain coffee through fine sieve or coffee filter into pitcher. Stir in coffee liqueur (if using). Serve with frothed milk.

nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 80; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: less than 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Sodium: 35 mg; Fiber: 0 g; Sugar: 16 g; Gluten-Free

Diabetic Thursday

It's time for this week's Diabetic Thursday. Here are today's six diabetic recipes to help you through the day, including Thai Chicken with Basil and Beef Steak and Roasted Vegetable Salad. Enjoy!

AMOND APRICOT MUFFINS

These fluffy muffins are easy to make and a treat to eat. Apricot preserves and almond extract make them truly unforgettable.

Yield: 6 servings

See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1191.shtml

Ingredients

1 serving Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

1 cup Pillsbury Best All Purpose Flour

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

2 tablespoons Crisco Pure Canola Oil

2 tablespoons skim milk

1/2 cup Smucker's Apricot Sugar Free Preserves, plus additional for spreading on tops of muffins.

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 6 muffin cups with no-stick cooking spray.

Combine flour, Splenda Granulated Sweetener, baking powder and salt in medium mixing bowl.

Beat together egg, oil and milk. Blend in preserves and almond extract. Add to flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Fill muffin cups evenly with batter.

Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool. Spread tops with a thin layer of preserves before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Calories from Fat: 50; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 190 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g

THAI CHICKEN WITH BASIL

Yield: 4 servings

Source: The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/653.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 large onion (12 ounces), cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

2 red or green chiles (serrano or jalapeno), seeded and cut into matchstick strips

2 teaspoons minced, peeled fresh ginger

2 garlic cloves, crushed with garlic press

1-1/2 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves

Directions

With knife held in slanting position, almost parallel to cutting surface, cut each chicken breast half crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. In medium bowl, combine fish sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar; add chicken slices, tossing to coat. Let marinate 5 minutes.

In nonstick 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until very hot. Add chicken with marinade and cook, stirring frequently (stir-frying), until chicken loses its pink color throughout, 3 to 4 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer chicken to bowl.

Add onion to marinade remaining in skillet and cook, stir-frying, until tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. Stir in chiles, ginger, and garlic; cook 1 minute longer.

Return chicken to skillet; heat thorough. Stir in basil leaves just before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 238; Protein: 31 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 784 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1 Bread/Starch

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MINI MUFFINS

Yield: 48 servings

See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1190.shtml

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup light butter, softened

1/3 cup Splenda Sugar Blend

1/3 cup packed Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 medium ripe bananas, mashed

1 large egg

1 (12 ounce) package Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray 48 mini-muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; set aside.

Combine butter, Splenda Sugar Blend, Splenda Brown Sugar Blend and vanilla in large bowl; beat at medium speed with a mixer until creamy. Beat in bananas and egg. Gradually mix in flour mixture; stir in morsels. Spoon batter evenly into prepared pan, filling cups 2/3 full.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans on wire rack. Remove muffins from pans to wire rack to cool completely.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 90; Calories from Fat: 35; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 55 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

BEEF STEAK AND ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD

Yield: 4 servings

See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1007.shtml

Ingredients

2 beef top loin steaks or four beef tenderloin steaks, cut 1 inch thick

8 cups torn salad greens

3/4 cup Italian dressing

Roasted Vegetables:

16 small mushrooms

1 large red, yellow or green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch wide strips

1 medium Japanese eggplant, sliced (1-inch)

1 medium onion, cut into 8 wedges

1 medium zucchini, sliced (1-inch)

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves

Directions

Heat oven to 425F. Spray 15 x 10-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Place vegetables in pan; spray generously with cooking spray. Drizzle with vinegar; sprinkle with garlic, rosemary and salt and pepper. Stir to coat.

Roast in 425F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until tender, stirring once. Cool slightly.

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place steaks in skillet; cook top loin steaks 12 to 15 minutes (tenderloin steaks 10 to 13 minutes) for medium rare (145F) to medium (160F) doneness, turning occasionally. Remove; let stand 10 minutes.

Carve steaks; season with salt. Arrange beef and vegetables on greens. Serve with dressing.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 418; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 24 g; Sodium: 849 mg; Cholesterol: 56 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 8.7 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g

CHILI BANZOS

Yield: 8 Servings (1/4 cup each)

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/651.shtml

Ingredients

2 cans (15 ounces each) garbanzo beans

Olive oil cooking spray

1 tablespoon reduced-sodium Worcestershire sauce

1-2 teaspoons chili powder

1-2 teaspoons garlic powder

1-2 teaspoons onion powder

1 teaspoon paprika

2-3 dashes hot pepper sauce

Salt, to taste

Directions

Rinse beans, drain, and dry well on paper toweling.

Arrange beans in large skillet; spray generously with cooking spray. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until beans begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Combine Worcestershire sauce, spices, and hot pepper sauce; pour over beans and stir to coat evenly. Sprinkle lightly with salt.

Transfer beans to jelly roll pan; bake at 325 degrees F. until beans are very crisp on the outside, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring twice. Cool; store in airtight container.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 109; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 440 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 18.5 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Bread

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH MUSHROOMS AND TARRAGON

Yield: 6 servings

Source: The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/655.shtml

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound assorted mushrooms (white and cremini, trimmed and sliced; shiitake, stems removed and caps sliced)

1 large shallot, finely chopped

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon or 1 teaspoon dried tarragon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

6 small skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 pounds)

1 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup dry white wine

Directions

In 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat.

Add mushrooms and shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown and any liquid has been evaporated, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer mushroom mixture to bowl.

On waxed paper, combine flour, 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon, salt and pepper; use flour mixture to coat chicken, shaking off excess.

In same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-heat until very hot. Add chicken and cook until chicken is golden brown and loses its pink color throughout, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to warm platter.

Add broth, wine, remaining 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon, and mushroom mixture to skillet; cook 1 minute, stirring until browned bits are loosened from bottom of skillet. Pour sauce over chicken.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 212; Protein: 29 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 437 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1/2 Bread/Starch

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

What a Turkey!

Most of us have preconceived ideas about food. One of those has to do with turkey, including only having that at holidays, such as Thanksgiving (in the U.S., anyway).

But seriously, who says you can't have turkey year 'round? Here are six turkey recipes to help you through the day, including Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Smoked Turkey and Sun Dried Tomato Wrap. Enjoy!

HEARTY TURKEY CHILI

This comes from GE Appliances and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

2-15oz. cans chili-ready beans in chili gravy

1-12oz bottle beer (can use non-alcoholic)

1-14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes (chili ready)

1/2 c. chili sauce

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions

In a large saucepan, brown turkey and onion over medium/high heat until turkey is no longer pink and onions are tender.

Add meat to slow cooker.

Stir in undrained beans, beer, undrained tomatoes, chili sauce, chili powder, Cajun seasoning and garlic salt.

Cook in slow cooker on low for 4 hours.

CHEF'S NOTES:

If you are in a hurry, you can add the ingredients to a Dutch oven, cover and cook on stovetop over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Flavors will not develop as fully, but dinner is done much quicker!

TURKEY MEATLOAF WITH FETA AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

This is from Giada de Laurentiis on the Food Network show, Giada at Home.

Total: 1 hr 5 min; Prep: 15 min; Inactive: 5 min; Cook: 45 min; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Vegetable cooking spray

1/2 cup plain bread crumbs

1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/4 cup chopped garlic and herb-marinated sun-dried tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, minced, optional

2 eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons whole milk

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound ground turkey, preferably dark meat

Directions

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, if using, eggs, milk, feta, salt, and pepper. Add the turkey and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.

Carefully pack the meat mixture into the prepared pan and bake until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice. Put on a serving platter and serve.

TURKEY AND HOMINY CHILI WITH SMOKY CHIPOTLE

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Making an authentic pozole — the fragrant Mexican hominy stew — has been on my list of things to do for years, but it can be very labor intensive. One recipe by Diana Kennedy, the author of Mexican cookbooks, calls for trimming hominy and boiling a pig’s head. Just reading about it causes my enthusiasm to wane. This stew is a compromise; a sort of a pozole-chili hybrid, loaded with ground turkey, bell peppers, hominy and pinto beans. Chile powder adds heat, jalapeño brightness and canned chipotle chile in adobo smokiness and depth. A bottle of beer provides a pleasant bitterness that complements the spice. This recipe makes a very large batch perfect for entertaining or for stocking the freezer, but you can easily half it to feed a family of four.”

Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

This was featured in “Save the Pig’s Head for Later” and can be found online here.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 1/2 pounds ground turkey

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 large Spanish onions, chopped

red pepper, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 to 2 jalapeño peppers, to taste, seeded and chopped

1 28-ounce can tomato purée

2 15-ounce cans white hominy, drained

2 15-ounce cans pinto beans, drained

1 12-ounce bottle beer

2 to 3 chipotles in adobo sauce, to taste, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 bay leaves

Sour cream, for serving

5 scallions, white and light green parts, sliced, for serving

1 bunch chopped cilantro, for serving

Lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm 1 tablespoon oil. Brown half the ground turkey with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stirring occasionally until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in half the garlic and half the chili powder and sauté for another 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer turkey to a bowl. Brown remaining turkey in same manner, transferring it to bowl with rest of turkey.

Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to pot and sauté onions, bell peppers and jalapeño peppers with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.

Return ground turkey and any liquid in bowl to pot and add tomato purée, hominy, beans, beer, chipotles, oregano and bay leaves with 3 cups water. Simmer chili, partly covered, until it is thick enough for your taste, about 1 hour. Serve hot, garnished with sour cream, scallions, cilantro and lime wedges.

SMOKEY TURKEY AND SUN DRIED TOMATO WRAPS

This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “These flavorful, fresh-tasting wraps make a delicious quick lunch or light dinner.”

Serves: 2; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup (4 oz.) fat-free cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon BUITONI® Refrigerated Pesto with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

4 burrito-size fat free flour tortillas, (10 inch)

8 slices smoked turkey breast, (thin)

4 cup romaine lettuce, shredded

2 cup tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

Directions

Combine cream cheese and pesto in small bowl; stir well. Spread mixture evenly over each tortilla. Place turkey slices, lettuce, tomato and onion over bottom third of tortillas, making sure ingredients don't touch edges.

Fold bottom edge of each tortilla toward the center and gently roll until tortilla is completely wrapped around the filling. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Cut each tortilla in half.

QUICK TURKEY MEATBALLS OVER GREENS

This comes from one of my favorite e-newsletters, The Kitchn's emailing list. (If you haven't signed up for their emails, you really should!) This serves 4, and can be viewed online (along with Faith Durand's description) here.

1 pound ground turkey, either 85% lean or 93% lean

1/4 cup grated onion, from 1/2 small to medium onion

1 large egg

1/3 cup breadcrumbs

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 whole cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups tomato sauce, homemade or store-bought

2 pounds greens, such as broccoli rabe, kale, mustard greens, washed, de-veined, and roughly chopped

Shaved Parmesan, to serve, optional

Combine the turkey, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, and parsley in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Begin heating a large pot of salted water for the cooking the greens while you shape and cook the meatballs.

Roll the meat mixture into 1 1/4-inch meatballs and place on a tray or in a pan. You should have between 26 and 30 meatballs.

Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or sauté pan. Place the meatballs in the hot skillet and brown for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Use tongs to gently rotate the meatballs so they brown evenly. (If your pan isn't large enough to brown all of the meatballs without them touching, cook them in batches and place them back on the cookie sheet once they've been browned. Then combine them back in the pan before simmering with the tomato sauce.)

Reduce the heat to medium, add the tomato sauce, and cover the pan. Simmer the meatballs and sauce for another 10 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.

While the meatballs are simmering, boil the greens in the salted water for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender. Drain. (You can also sauté or stir-fry the greens in a hot skillet with oil if preferred.)

To serve, put greens on the plate and top with meatballs and sauce.

Recipe Notes:

To prevent the meatballs sticking to the pan, make sure it is hot before adding the meatballs, and brown thoroughly before trying to turn them. They should release easily once browned. Also, using 85% lean turkey (as opposed to completely lean) should help the meatballs release more cleanly.

Storage: Store the meatballs in their sauce for up to 3 days in the fridge. Freeze cooked meatballs and sauce for up to 3 months.

TURKEY TACO SOUP

This comes from Laurel Randolph, one of the writers on The Spruce. Laurel wrote, “Taco soup is an easy, one-bowl version of everyone's favorite dinner: taco night. All of the ingredients simmer together to make a robust, flavorful soup that's especially good with a side of crispy tortilla chips. And with only one dirty pot and a few dirty soup bowls, it's totally carefree. The typical ground beef is replaced with shredded turkey for a lighter meal—or you can replace it with cooked chicken, if that's what you have on hand.

“We love to make this soup after Thanksgiving, when we have leftover turkey to use up and we want to do as little cooking as possible. It's a great way to repurpose cooked, shredded breast or dark meat to create a totally different dish. No one will be complaining of leftover fatigue with this recipe.”

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: Serves 3 - 4.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola (or grapeseed oil)

1 small red onion (diced)

1 green bell pepper (diced)

1 jalapeño (seeded and minced)

3 garlic cloves (minced)

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juice)

1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)

1 cup packed shredded cooked turkey

3 cups turkey or chicken broth

Salt and pepper

1 avocado (diced, or sour cream for serving)

Optional: Chips (for serving)

Directions

Preheat a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the oil followed by the onion. Sauté for 2 minutes.

Add the bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic. Sauté for 2 more minutes.

Add the chili powder, cumin, and oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes and juice, pinto beans, turkey and broth, and stir. Season with salt and pepper.

Turn up the heat and bring to a simmer.

Turn the heat to low and let simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Serve topped with diced avocado or a dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Grilled Chicken and Smoked Turkey and Sun Dried Tomato Wraps. Enjoy!

STEAK ’N’ BACON CHEDDAR MEATBALLS

This is from Juila Moskin in The New York Times cooking email. Julia wrote, “This is essentially a bacon cheeseburger in meatball form. The cooked steak should be diced into small bites, not ground, for the best texture.”

Yield: About 2 dozen meatballs, 6 to 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes.

This was featured in “Lucky to Be a Leftover” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, minced

Scant 8 ounces bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice

1 pound cooked steak, diced

1 pound ground beef, 80% lean

6 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated

3 large eggs

1/2 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

2 teaspoons salt

Black pepper

Preparation

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion and bacon, and cook, stirring, until bacon has browned and onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer onion and bacon to a plate and cool in refrigerator.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Use the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

In a large bowl, combine steak, ground beef, cooled bacon and onions, cheese, eggs, bread crumbs and salt, and mix lightly but thoroughly by hand. To taste for seasoning, heat a small skillet and fry a chunk of the mixture until browned. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Roll mixture into golf-ball-size balls, packing firmly. Pack snugly into the prepared dish, making even rows to form a grid. Roast for 20 minutes, or until firm and cooked through. (The center should be at 165 degrees.)

Let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

NOT SO GUILTY BROWNIES

Recipe Yield: Servings: 24

Source: Cinnamon Hearts

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/not-so-guilty-brownies

Ingredients

Brownies:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

2 tsp chocolate extract or flavor

2 eggs

Frosting:

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 T unsweetened cocoa

1 T skim or 2% milk

1/2 tsp chocolate extract or flavor

1/8 tsp butter flavor

Directions

Heat oven to 350F.

Grease bottom only of 8-inch square pan.

Combine all brownie ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Spread in greased pan.

Bake at 350 F. for 13-18 minutes, or until top is dry and springs back when touched lightly in center.

Cool for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine all frosting ingredients in a small bowl & mix well.

Spread over top of slightly cooled brownies or cut brownies into squares and drizzle with frosting (as shown, adjust milk to get the right consistency).

Cool completely.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 80; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 50 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Carbohydrates: 13 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat

ROASTED SQUASH CHILI MAC

This is from Rachael Ray of The Food Network show Rachael Ray’s Week in a Day.

Total: 1 hr 40 min; Active: 20 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter, plus more for the casserole dish

1 pound butternut squash, peeled and diced (or look for diced raw butternut squash in the produce department)

EVOO, for drizzling

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Freshly grated nutmeg

1 pound rigatoni, penne or macaroni with ridges

2 tablespoons chili powder, such as Gebhardt's, or a blend of ancho or chipotle

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cloves garlic, made into a paste

1 fresh chile pepper, such as Fresno or jalapeno, finely chopped

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups milk

2 cups shredded sharp yellow Cheddar

1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

One 14-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup shredded pepper jack or other hot-pepper melting cheese

Ingredients

Watch how to make this recipe.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly butter a casserole dish.

Put the squash on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with EVOO and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Toss to combine. Roast until the edges are browned, 17 to 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water to just shy of al dente, 7 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chili powder, oregano, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, garlic and chile pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, then whisk in the milk. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Add the Cheddar and Parmigiano-Reggiano and stir until melted.

Combine the squash, chili-cheese sauce and beans, then transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Top with the pepper jack cheese. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is browned, 15 to 20 minutes more.

SMOKEY TURKEY AND SUN DRIED TOMATO WRAPS

This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “These flavorful, fresh-tasting wraps make a delicious quick lunch or light dinner.”

Serves: 2; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup (4 oz.) fat-free cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon BUITONI® Refrigerated Pesto with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

4 burrito-size fat free flour tortillas, (10 inch)

8 slices smoked turkey breast, (thin)

4 cup romaine lettuce, shredded

2 cup tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

Directions

Combine cream cheese and pesto in small bowl; stir well. Spread mixture evenly over each tortilla. Place turkey slices, lettuce, tomato and onion over bottom third of tortillas, making sure ingredients don't touch edges.

Fold bottom edge of each tortilla toward the center and gently roll until tortilla is completely wrapped around the filling. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Cut each tortilla in half.

GRILLED CHICKEN

This is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network show The Pioneer Woman.

Total: 24 hr 15 min; Active: 15 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

Olive oil

Juice of 4 lemons

1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons honey

A dash of salt

4 whole chicken breasts

Directions

Mix together some olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon, honey and a dash of salt. Pound the chicken breasts until they are uniform thickness, then marinate them for about 24 hours in the fridge.

Grill 'em up ... they should take 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown and cooked all the way through ... turn them halfway through so they cook evenly on both sides, then set 'em aside and keep 'em warm.

COCONUT RICE

This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Coconut milk lends rice both fat and sweetness, making it a richer, more mellow side than plain rice. To make it, simply replace half of the cooking water with coconut milk. It becomes a meal if you serve it with a fried egg, finely sliced pickled chiles with a little of their pickling liquid and some crushed peanuts. And if you wanted to turn it into dessert, serving it with ripe fruit like cut mango on top, you could stick to the recipe below, but bump the sugar up to 2 tablespoons.”

Yield: 3 to 4 servings; Time: 35 minutes

To view this recipe online, click here.

LEARN: How to Make Rice

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice, such as jasmine

3/4 cup coconut milk

1 scant tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

3/4 cup water

Preparation

Rinse the rice a few times, until the water that drains away runs almost completely clear.

Put in a medium, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with coconut milk, water, sugar and salt. When the liquid comes up to a boil, give it a good stir, scraping the bottom of the pot. Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low.

Cook for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Mix gently with a flexible rubber spatula. Taste, season with salt and serve.

Taco Tuesday

If it's Tuesday (and my calendar says it is), it's time for another Taco Tuesday. Here are six taco recipes to help you through the day, including Chicken Chili Tacos and Taco Stuffed Peppers. Enjoy!

SOFT TACOS WITH CHICKEN AND TOMATO-CORN SALSA

This comes from Martha Rose Schulman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Tomato-corn salsa is substantial, almost like a salad. These light, fresh tacos make a wonderful summer meal.” Yield: Serves four; Time: 15 minutes.

This was featured in “Sweet Corn: Getting an Earful in Summer”, and can be found online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1/2 small red or white onion, finely chopped

1 ear of corn, steamed for five minutes

1 pound ripe tomatoes, finely chopped

1 to 3 jalapeño or serrano peppers (to taste), seeded if desired and minced

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Salt to taste

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, poached and shredded (about 2 cups)

8 corn tortillas

1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese

Preparation

Place the chopped onion in a small bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain on paper towels. Cut the kernels off the steamed ear of corn.

Toss together the tomatoes, minced chiles, cilantro, onion and steamed corn. Season to taste with salt, and add up to 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Place the shredded chicken in a bowl, and season with 1 tablespoon lime juice and salt to taste.

Heat the tortillas. Wrap in aluminum foil, and heat through in a 350-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes; or heat through one at a time in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until flexible. Place one or two on each plate, top with shredded chicken and a generous spoonful of the salsa, and sprinkle some cheese on top. Serve, passing additional salsa if there is any at the table.

Tip

Advance preparation: The poached, shredded chicken will keep for three days in the refrigerator. The salsa can be assembled several hours before serving. Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.

CHICKEN CHILI TACOS

This is from the TODAY Show Recipes e-newsletter. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Servings: 4.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 1/2 cups prepared pico de gallo or salsa

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, lightly toasted

2 cloves garlic. minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

12 taco shells (crisp or soft/flour or corn)

Preparation

Place the chicken, pico de gallo or salsa, lime juice, cumin seeds and garlic in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. (You can also cook on high for 3 hours.)

Allow to cool a bit. Scoop the chicken out with a big slotted spoon and place it in a large serving bowl. Use two forks to pull the meat apart. The chicken will shred easily. Stir in some cooking juice from the pot and top with the cilantro.

Place the shredded chicken, your taco shells and desired fixings on the table and let everyone put together their perfect taco.



TACO PIZZAS

This is from Lena Abraham at Delish. The recipe begins, “Tacos and pizzas are meant to be together.”

Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 lb. ground beef

1 packet taco seasoning

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

6 tostada shells

1 c. salsa

2 c. Mexican blend cheese

1 c. cherry tomatoes, cut into rounds

1 c. Shredded lettuce

1/2 c. sour cream

Cilantro, for garnish

Directions

In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and taco seasoning, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until the beef is no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Drain fat and set aside.

Build your “pizza”: spread a spoonful of salsa on your tostada shell, then top with cheese, meat, tomatoes, lettuce and a dollop of sour cream. Garnish with cilantro if desired and serve.

TACO STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Lauren Miyahira on Delish, and begins, “Taco 'bout a healthy dinner!”

Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 Onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lb. ground beef

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. Chopped cilantro

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

3 bell peppers, halved (seeds removed)

1 c. shredded Cheddar

1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack

1 c. Shredded lettuce

Pico de gallo, for serving

Hot sauce, for serving

Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 375° and spray a large baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat about 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Add onion and cook until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain fat.

Add chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika to beef mixture, then season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle bell peppers with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the peppers, cut side up, in the baking dish and spoon meat mixture into each pepper. Top with cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and the peppers are crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.

Top each pepper with lettuce and serve with pico de gallo, hot sauce, and lime wedges.

TACOS WITH SPICY TOFU, TOMATOES AND CHARD

This is from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “In these tacos, tofu stands in for meat in a vegan picadillo, cooked in a modified salsa ranchera. I’ve never been one for meat “substitutes,” and I normally don’t advocate using tofu in anything other than Asian dishes. But I find this pretty irresistible, a sort of vegan picadillo. You can make it spicier by adding more chiles, milder by using less. The tofu is cooked in a modified salsa ranchera; being tofu, it absorbs the sweet and spicy flavors of the tomatoes and chiles. I used firm tofu and mashed it with the back of my spoon. Silken tofu is also a good choice, though then you will have something more akin to Mexican scrambled eggs.”

Yield: 8 tacos, 4 servings; Time: About 45 minutes

This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 pound tomatoes

1/2 pound Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves washed in 2 changes of water

Salt to taste

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil

1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground

1 teaspoon mild chili powder

1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles (to taste), seeded if desired and minced

1 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut into medium-size cubes

1/4 cup chopped cilantro (more to taste)

8 warm corn tortillas

Salsa fresca (optional)

Preparation

Preheat broiler with rack set about 4 inches from the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place tomatoes on foil and broil for 6 minutes, until blackened in spots or all over. Using tongs, flip over and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes. The tomatoes should be charred and cooked through. Remove from oven and tip, with juices, into a bowl. Allow to cool until you can handle them, then core and discard skins. Purée, along with juices in the bowl, in a blender or a food processor.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the chard. When water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and chard. Blanch for 1 minute and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and take up chard by the handful to squeeze out excess water. Cut in 1/4-inch wide strips and set aside.

Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add puréed tomatoes, which should sizzle as soon as they hit the pan. Cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and leaves a canal when you run your spoon down the middle, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.

Add minced chiles and tofu, and mash tofu into the tomatoes using the back of your spoon. Add Swiss chard and salt to taste, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring and mashing tofu. Stir in cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Heat tortillas and top with tofu mix. Serve with salsa on the side if desired.

Tip

Advance preparation: The cooked tofu keeps well for a couple of days.

VEGGIE TACOS WITH AVOCADO TOMATILLO SALSA

This is from Jeanine & Jack at Love & Lemons. The recipe starts off, “I know – another taco recipe already? Well, I like tacos. I’m sure you do too because you are here after all.”
Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 30 mins; Total time: 40 mins; Serves: serves 2-3

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 small Japanese eggplant, chopped into 1-inch pieces

1 cup chopped summer squash (yellow, pattypan, or zucchini)

1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into 1-inch pieces

1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced

drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil

6 corn or flour tortillas

1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 avocado, diced

handful of cilantro

1 serrano pepper, sliced (optional)

crumbled cotija cheese (optional)

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Avocado Tomatillo Sauce:

1/3 cup store-bought or homemade tomatillo salsa

1/4 cup pepitas

1/2 avocado

handful of spinach

2 tbsp olive oil

squeezes of lime, to taste

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped eggplant, squash, red pepper and tomatoes onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper and roast until golden brown around the edges 25-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make your sauce. In a food processor, blend together the tomatillo salsa, pepitas, avocado, spinach, olive oil, lime juice and pinches of salt and pepper, to taste. Chill until ready to use.

Assemble the tacos with the black beans, roasted vegetables, diced avocado, cilantro, serrano, cotija (if using), and a generous scoop of the avocado tomatillo sauce. Serve with extra sauce on the side.

Store extra sauce in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

Notes

Vegan: skip the cotija cheese

Gluten free: use corn tortillas

Monday, March 26, 2018

Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Cheeseburger Stuffed Shells and Chipotle Asparagus Quesadillas. Enjoy!

TURKEY MEATLOAF WITH FETA AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

This is from Giada de Laurentiis on the Food Network show, Giada at Home.

Total: 1 hr 5 min; Prep: 15 min; Inactive: 5 min; Cook: 45 min; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Vegetable cooking spray

1/2 cup plain bread crumbs

1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/4 cup chopped garlic and herb-marinated sun-dried tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, minced, optional

2 eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons whole milk

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound ground turkey, preferably dark meat

Directions

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, if using, eggs, milk, feta, salt, and pepper. Add the turkey and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.

Carefully pack the meat mixture into the prepared pan and bake until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice. Put on a serving platter and serve.

CHEESEBURGER STUFFED SHELLS

This is from Machismo on Tbsp., and begins, “Cheeseburgers? Good. Stuffed Shells? Good. Together? Amazing. Cheesy beef and onions are stuffed inside pasta shells and baked to hearty perfection.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 sweet onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb. ground beef

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup ketchup

3 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided

18 large pasta shells (from a 16 oz. box)

Extra ketchup, for serving

Fresh oregano, garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, start heating a large pot of water for cooking the pasta.

Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up the beef as it cooks, until the meat is well browned, another 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in ketchup and 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese at the very end and remove mixture from the heat.

Cook shells according to package until they are al dente. Be careful not to overcook the shells or they will fall apart later. Drain shells and let cool briefly. (For best results, cook more than 18 shells in case any break or tear during cooking.)

Working one at a time, stuff each shell with a generous spoonful of cheeseburger filling and place in a large baking dish. Repeat process until you’ve used all of the cheeseburger mixture.

Add 1/4 cup of water to the baking dish and cover it tightly in foil. Bake shells for 15 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top of the shells and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes, until cheese is completely melted.

Remove from oven and garnish shells with a drizzle of ketchup and sprinkle of fresh oregano, if desired. Serve warm.

PERSIAN JEWELED RICE

This is from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking email. David wrote, “This dish is called jeweled rice because it is golden and glistening, laced with butter and spices and piled with nuts and gem-colored fruits. In Iran, it is typically served at weddings or other celebrations. Great platters of it appear at banquets. It also goes beautifully with a weeknight roast chicken.

“You will probably need to do a little shopping to make this traditional dish. But it is well worth it, and most good supermarkets can supply what you require.”

Yield: 6 servings; Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes.

This was featured in “Buried Beneath Jewels, an Aromatic Treasure” and can be viewed online here..

Ingredients

2 cups best-quality Basmati rice

Kosher salt

Unsalted butter, 6 tablespoons in total

1 large onion, diced small

1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled and soaked in 1/4 cup hot water

Large pinch ground cinnamon

Large pinch ground cardamom

Large pinch ground allspice

Large pinch ground black pepper

Large pinch ground cumin

1/3 cup chopped dried apricots

1/3 cup golden raisins or currants

1/3 cup dried imported barberries or goji berries, soaked in warm water for 5 minutes and drained (or use 1/3 cup dried cherries or dried cranberries)

1/3 cup blanched slivered almonds

1/3 cup roughly chopped pistachios

Preparation

Rinse the rice several times in cold water until the water runs clear. Drain. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large pot with 2 tablespoons kosher salt. Add the rinsed rice and boil, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, then drain well in a colander.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, season lightly with salt and cook until softened and lightly colored, 4 to 5 minutes. Moisten with 1 tablespoon saffron water and stir in the cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, black pepper and cumin. Cook for 1 minute more. Stir in the apricots, raisins (or currants) and barberries (or cherries or cranberries).

Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a heavy-bottomed enamel or nonstick Dutch oven over medium heat. Spread half the par-cooked rice over the bottom of the pot. Spoon over the onion-fruit mixture, then the remaining rice. Leave the pot on the flame, uncovered, for 5 to 8 minutes to gently brown the rice. (Do not stir or move the rice — you will need to rely on your nose to tell if the rice has browned.)

Drizzle the remaining saffron water over the rice and put on the lid. Adjust the heat to very low and leave undisturbed for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let rest at least 10 minutes.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat and gently toast the almonds and pistachios for a minute or so, taking care not to get them too brown. Set aside for garnish.

To serve, spoon the rice into a wide bowl or platter. With a spatula, carefully lift the bottom crust, placing the crisp side up. Sprinkle with the toasted nuts.

TEXAS-STYLE CHILI

This is from Juila Moskin in The New York Times cooking email. Julia wrote, “Calling a dish ‘Texas Chili,’ especially if you’re not a native of that state, is clearly asking for trouble. But this recipe, refined over years of potlucks and Super Bowl parties, is too good to keep under wraps. Its depth of flavor, from different chile types, makes this recipe stand out. It also has whole spices, unsweetened chocolate and dark beer that meld seamlessly into a brick-red sauce that naps the succulent meat. The meat can be cut into large chunks, or, more traditionally, thin slices, especially if you are using a tougher cut than chuck. Sirloin also makes good chili. If you have masa harina, the corn flour used to make tortillas, that will make the gravy even thicker, but it is not necessary. Like many vigorously spiced dishes, this one tastes even better a day or two after it is made and will hold its flavor well for at least a week.”

Yield: 12 servings; Time: 2 hours.

This was featured in “Texas Chili Makes a Welcome Guest” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds

1 1/2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds

4 pounds beef chuck roast or steak

1 teaspoon salt, more to taste

3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra as needed

1 large yellow or white onion, chopped, plus extra chopped onion for serving

6 large garlic cloves, minced

4 to 7 large fresh green jalapeños (depending on how much heat you like), stemmed, seeded and chopped

3 tablespoons masa harina or 1 corn tortilla, torn into pieces (optional)

2 tablespoons ground pure chile powder, such as pasilla, Chimayo or ancho

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 (12-ounce) bottle Negra Modelo beer

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, or 3 10-ounce cans Ro-Tel canned tomatoes with green chiles

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate

3 whole dried large red chiles, such as New Mexico or guajillo

Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving

Fritos or warmed flour tortillas, for serving

Preparation

In a small heavy skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant. In a mortar and pestle, or in a coffee grinder, grind to a powder and set aside.

Meanwhile, roughly cut beef into 2-inch cubes, or slice it against the grain into pieces about 1/4-inch thick by 1 1/2 inches square. Sprinkle with salt.

In a large, heavy pot over high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, brown the meat, turning occasionally until crusty. Adjust heat to prevent scorching. As it is cooked, remove the meat to drain on paper towels. Add more oil as needed for browning, but do not clean out the pot.

To the empty but crusty pot, add onion, garlic, jalapeños, masa harina or tortilla (if using), chile powder, cumin-coriander powder and oregano. Cook, stirring, until onion has softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add meat, beer, tomatoes, chocolate, whole dried chiles and 1 quart water. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Remove the dried chiles. Taste and add salt if necessary.

Serve immediately or let cool and refrigerate. The chili tastes best one or two days after it is made.

Reheat over low heat if necessary and serve in bowls, sprinkled with chopped onion and cilantro. Add Fritos for crunch, or dip tortillas into the spicy gravy.

CHIPOTLE ASPARAGUS QUESADILLAS

This comes from the April/May 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 34. It begins, “Canned chipotles in adobo sauce lend mellow, smoky heat to quesadillas. Leftover chipotles (there are usually four or five in a can) can be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for future use.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

Quesadillas

1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (2 cups)

1 red bell pepper, sliced (1 cup)

1 medium onion, sliced (1 cup)

1 1/2 tsp. olive oil or vegetable oil

1 tsp. dried oregano

4 8-inch sprouted-grain tortillas

Chipotle Spread

3 Tbs. vegan mayonnaise

2 tsp. minced, drained chipotles in adobo sauce

1 Tbs. lime or lemon juice

Preheat oven to 425°F.

To make Quesadillas: Toss together asparagus, bell pepper, onion, oil, and oregano in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread on large baking sheet, and roast 10 to 12 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring once or twice.

Meanwhile, to make Chipotle Spread: blend all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.

Spread 1 1/2 tsp. Chipotle Spread on one side of each tortilla, spreading all the way out to edges. Top with 2/3 cup filling on one half of each tortilla, then fold over tortillas, pressing edges together to enclose filling and form half-moons.

Coat large skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, turning once.

nutritional information Per Quesadilla: Calories: 273; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 235 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan

RED BEANS AND RICE

This is from Kim Severson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Kim wrote, “Every Monday, you can find a pot of red beans and rice cooking in someone’s kitchen in New Orleans. The food writer and New Orleans bon vivant Pableaux Johnson’s house is no exception. The dish, an easy meal from when people used to reserve Monday to do the wash, was once made with the pork bone left over from Sunday supper. In this version, Mr. Johnson strongly encourages the use of hand-made Louisiana Andouille, but smoked sausage will do.”

Yield: About 12 cups; Time: 2 1/2 hours, plus at least 4 hours’ soaking.

Note: Several readers to the NYT cooking e-newsletter responded that they soak the beans for 10 minutes, bring to a boil for 20 minutes, then let them sit until ready to cook. I’ve usually boiled them for 10 minutes or so, then let them sit for maybe an hour. That also seems to do the trick.

This was featured in: Fluffy. Tasty. Tricky. and can be viewed online here.

LEARN: How to Make Rice

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound dried red beans (preferably New Orleans Camelia brand)

1 pound Andouille sausage, sliced 1/2-inch thick (smoked sausage can also be used)

4 tablespoons olive oil

6 garlic cloves, minced

2 medium onions, finely diced

1 large rib celery, finely diced

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons salt

3 bay leaves

2 teaspoons dried basil

3/4 teaspoon rubbed sage

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 bunch fresh green onions, chopped

Cooked white long-grain rice, for serving

Preparation

In a large bowl, cover beans in water and soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. (Water should cover beans by at least an inch.)

In a large, heavy pot, brown sausage in 1 tablespoon of oil until slightly crisp. Add remaining oil, then the garlic and onions. Sauté over medium heat until onions become transparent and limp. Add celery and bell pepper and sauté for 5 minutes.

Pour soaked beans and water into the pot and bring to a simmer. Add black pepper, cayenne, salt and all herbs except parsley.

Cook until beans are softened, about 11/2 to 2 hours. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Fifteen minutes before serving, remove 1 cup of beans to a bowl and, using a fork, mash them and stir back into the pot to enhance the creamy texture of the dish. Add parsley and green onions. Simmer about 15 minutes, taste and adjust seasoning, and add up to 1 cup more water if beans seem too thick. Remove bay leaves. Serve over white long-grain rice.

Meatless Monday - Vegetarian Chili!

It's time for another Meatless Monday. This week's vegetarian offerings are all about chili.

Chilly weather screams for certain foods to warm us up - including chili! Here are six vegetarian chili recipes to try today (or any time), including Almost Fat-Free Vegetable Chili and Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole. Enjoy!

BLACK BEAN CHILI

This recipe is from the Silk emailed newsletter. Total time: 1 hr 15 min; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

1 medium green, yellow, orange or red bell pepper, finely chopped with stem and seeds removed

3 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 (28-oz) can diced tomatoes, with juice

1/4 cup Silk Original Cashewmilk

2 (15-oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15-oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup uncooked quinoa

2 3/4 cups vegetable stock

Whole cilantro leaves or parsley, if desired

6 scallions, chopped, if desired

Preparation

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and pepper, reducing the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft (about 10 minutes).

Stir in chili powder, cumin, bay leaf and salt. CooStir in chili powder, cumin, bay leaf and salt. Cook, stirring often, until spices are fragrant (about 1 minute), stirring often, until spices are fragrant (about 1 minute).


Add tomatoes with juice, stir, and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes.

Add Silk, beans, quinoa and stock, cooking for an additional 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Serve topped with cilantro and scallions, if desired.

LOW-CALORIE, ALMOST FAT-FREE VEGETABLE CHILI

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's vegetarian blog's guide, wrote, "Using extra vegetables, tomato juice and tomatoes with fewer beans keeps this vegetarian chili lower in calories. Though meatless chili is already a healthy and low-fat choice, this version is extra low-cal. It's really more like a chili-spiced tomato soup than a hearty chili. This was one of those recipes that came about purely because of what I had on hand in my kitchen, which happened to be lots of veggies, and not so many beans. But I really wanted chili."

Ingredients:

1/2 medium onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp water

1 large carrot, sliced thin

1 green bell pepper, chopped small

1 red bell pepper, chopped small

2 tbsp soy sauce

1/2 cup corn kernels

1 15-ounce can kidney beans

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)

1 12-ounce can tomato juice or V8

water

1 jalapeno or other small spicy pepper, minced

1 tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp seasoned salt

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

green onions for garnish, optional

Preparation:

In a large non-stick pot, heat the garlic and onions for 3-4 minutes. Add the water and carrots and heat, stirring, for another 3-4 minutes. Add green bell pepper, red bell pepper and soy sauce, stirring to combine well. Heat for just another minute or two. Reduce heat to medium low and add all the remaining ingredients, except for the green onions. Cover and allow to slowly simmer for at least 25 minutes and up to 40 minutes.

Adjust the seasonings to taste, garnish with some green onions or even a bit of cheese or sour cream if you're not eating vegan.

Nutritional information, via CalorieCount: Calories: 195; Calories from Fat: 10; Total Fat: 1.1g, 2% daily value; Trans Fat: 0.0g; Cholesterol: 0mg, 0%; Sodium: 614mg, 26%; Total Carbohydrates: 38.0g, 13%; Dietary Fiber: 9.6g, 38%; Sugars: 9.5g; Protein: 11.2g; Vitamin A 80%, Vitamin C 159% Calcium 5%, Iron 32

VEGETARIAN CHILI AND CORNBREAD CASSEROLE

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, Vegetarian Food expert for About.com. Jolinda wrote, “Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole. With beans and mock meat for plenty of protein, this easy vegetarian and vegan chili casserole can be prepared in just a few minutes, and can be a great way to use up leftover chili, if you have some. If you like corn bread, you'll like this recipe.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 - 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 15 ounce cans kidney beans, well drained

2 cups vegetarian ground beef substitute

1 cup corn

2 15 ounce cans tomato sauce

2 tbsp chili powder

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/3 tsp salt

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp cumin

2 cups cornmeal

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tbsp baking powder

2 cups soy milk (or another non-dairy milk substitute)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tbsp maple syrup

Preparation

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the beans, beef substitute, corn, tomato sauce and spices and spread in the bottom of a large baking pan.

In a separate bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour and baking powder. Slowly whisk in the soy milk, oil and maple syrup, stirring just until combined. Pour this cornbread batter over the chili mixture and spread in the dish.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

You could also make this recipe using any kind of leftover chili or canned vegetarian chili.

ULTIMATE VEGAN CHILI

This comes from the February 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 51. It begins, “This chili is made with a base of seitan and mushrooms for a rich, thick dish that is, for lack of a better word, meaty! In lieu of chili beans such as Bush's Best Chili Beans, you can substitute or 1 can each black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans, partially drained. If you like your chili three-alarm hot, add an extra chipotle chile or two.” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained and minced

8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

2 8-oz. pkgs. seitan, chopped (3 cups)

3 Tbs. tomato paste

2 tsp. smoked paprika

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 1/2 tsp. chili powder

3/4 tsp. celery salt

3 15-oz. cans chili beans, partially drained

1 cup chopped carrots (2 to 3 large carrots)

2 Tbs. low-sodium tamari or soy sauce

1 Tbs. vegan Worcestershire sauce

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown, stirring often. Add garlic and chipotle chile, and sauté 1 minute more. Stir in mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Add seitan, tomato paste, paprika, oregano, chili powder, celery salt, and 1 cup water; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add beans, carrots, tamari, and Worcestershire sauce. Cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 1 hour, or until carrots are tender.

nutritional information Per 1-cup Serving: Calories: 276; Protein: 24 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 844 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan

VEGETARIAN CHILI

This also comes from PureWow. Makes 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large white onion, diced

2 large (or 4 small) poblano peppers, seeded and diced

1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon chile powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

4 cups vegetable broth

One 15-ounce can chickpeas

One 15-ounce can black beans

2 cups frozen corn, thawed

Sour cream, for garnish

1 avocado, diced, for garnish

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, poblano pepper and sweet potato, and sauté until the onion is translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook until fragrant, 1 minute more.

Add the chile powder, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and pepper, and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until good flavor develops and the vegetables are very tender, 30 to 35 minutes.

Stir in the beans, chickpeas and corn, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.

To serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, 1 to 2 tablespoons avocado and 2 teaspoons cilantro. Leftover chili will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.

BLACK BEAN VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH SWEET POTATO

This is from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s Vegetarian Food expert. For this one, Jolinda wrote, “I have to confess, chili is not my favorite of vegetarian meals, but even I couldn't stop eating this vegetarian and vegan black bean chili, it was just so flavorful! The sweet potatoes and carrots match perfectly with the spiciness of the fresh chili flavor. This is my new favorite homemade chili recipe!” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 3-4 servings (though it ends “Makes 5 servings of homemade black bean chili.”)

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, diced

2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 medium carrots, sliced

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (optional)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 15 ounce can black beans (or a little less than two cups, if you're cooking them fresh)

1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes or tomato sauce

1/2 cup vegetable broth

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp cayenne (or to taste)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Preparation

Sautee onions and garlic in olive oil for a minute or two, then add sweet potatoes, carrots and bell pepper until onions are soft, about 5-6 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium low, and add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine well.

Simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes, until flavors have mingled and vegetables are cooked.